With the blockbuster success of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," it should surprise no one that Hollywood has glommed onto Jesus in a big way. And what better biblical story to reenact than the Savior's birth, made immortal everywhere, from millions of pulpits to Linus's annual speech in "A Charlie Brown Christmas"?

"The Nativity Story" made me think of Linus, and reminded me why he makes me cry every year. Starchy where Linus is spontaneous, stagy where Linus is sincere, this drab exercise in glum piety slumps where it should soar, sapping the story of its mystery and transcendence with an overriding sense of literality. As the familiar characters take their famous journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, it often looks like they're treading on eggshells, painstakingly trying to avoid offense, misinterpretation or controversy with every careful step.

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